Holder for pencils, pens and similar long articles



Oct. 19, 1965 T. P. MORGAN 3,212,146

HOLDER FOR PENCILS, PENS AND SIMILAR LONG ARTICLES Filed Oct. 2, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR moms P. Monenu ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1965 T. P.MORGAN 3,212,146

HOLDER FOR PENCILS, PENS AND SIMILAR LONG ARTICLES Filed 001;. 2, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR THOMAS P. MORGAN whim ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,212,146 HOLDER F012 PENQILS, PENS AN D SEMILAR LQNG ARTICLESThomas P. Morgan, 2007 Kearny St. NE, Washington, D-C. Filed Oct. 2,1963, Ser. No. 313,210 17 Claims. (CI. 24-10) This invention relates toimprovements in holders for pencils, pens and like long bodies and isdirected to a holder wherein the pencil or similar article can be easilyand quickly introduced or inserted longitudinally and securely held.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel holderfor a pencil or similar article which can be readily combined with othercompatible articles to meet the nee-d for such a holder, supported ormain tained in any one of a plurality of places or positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for pencils andlike articles, which in its fundamental form is of simple design wherebyit may be readily incorporated in the structure of a number of otherarticles of both ornamental and functional nature or, in other words,will provide an inexpensive and practical holder which will lend itsservice, in one form or another, to many useful and novel arrangements.

More particularly the invention has for an object to provide a novelholder for pencils, pens and articles of a similar nature which embodiesthe use of an elastic band in a novel manner whereby to frictionallyhold the article in position in a tubular receiver portion and whereinsuch elastic band or holding means, while retaining the article securelyin position, will not make difficult the insertion of the article intoor its removal from the tubular receiver.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for a pencil orsimilar article, which embodies the use of a rubber, or other, circularband in which a portion of such band is torsionally twisted andmaintained in position in a tubular passage formed in a supporting body,whereby a part of the twisted portion of the band projects radially inthe tubular passage and thereby provides a frictional means for engaginga pencil or the like when it is inserted into the passage and imposes ayielding pressure thereon to hold the article in place regardless ofwhether the passage in which the article is maintained, is vertical orin any other position.

More specifically the invention embodies, in its fundamental form, abody of suitable material, which may be wood, plastic, glass, metal,ceramics or hard cardboard, formed as a tube, or having a tubularpassage formed therein, into which the article to be supported isinsertable. An elastic band is applied to the body, with a part of theband passing through the passage and wherein such part is torsionallytwisted so that a portion thereof will be disposed axially or extendingin an axial direction in the passage to be engaged by and moved orforced aside by a pencil or like article when the same is introducedinto the passage.

Means is provided for attaching the elastic band to the body, whichmeans is in the form of a slot leading into the passage whereby a partof the band may be placed in the tubular passage and a part, When theband is of circular form such as the conventional rubber band, placedaround the outside of the body. The part of the band lying outside ofthe body between an end of the passage and a portion thereof lyingparallel to'the passage, may then be grasped and lifted from the bodyand given a half turn, or turned under. This will result in a torsionaltwist in the portion lying in the passage, and in the portion parallelto the passage. Thus the torsionally twisted part of the elastic bandforms an elastic spiral to render a wedge-like effect upon the articleinserted in the passage, to hold the article snugly in position.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invention in itsfundamental form, which may be made a part of any desired carrying orsupporting means, as hereinafter illustrated and described, the elasticband supporting body being here conceived as being transparent such asglass or plastic, and showing the torsional or spiral twisting ofportions of the band.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially onthe line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a novelty application of the invention wherein two ofthe pencil holding bodies are mounted upon opposite sides of an animal,in simulation of packs, and wherein the elastic bands simulate and alsofunction as pack straps for supporting the bodies.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially onthe line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the application of theinvention to a desk calendar.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates the application of the invention to and itsincorporation in a resilient holder for attachment to a sun visor orsimilar support.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of the embodiment of the invention shownin FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates the application of the invention to another form ofresilient clip.

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective of the form or embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates the application of the invention to a body attachedto the neck of a spring pressed blade of a clipboard and wherein theelastic band also functions to hold the body in position.

FIG. 12 is a view in top plan and on an enlarged scale of the structureillustrated in perspective in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view in perspective, on an enlarged scale, showing the formof the body for application to the clipboard blade.

FIG. 14 is a view in perspective of another clipboard and blade, whereinthe invention is made as an integral part of the blade.

FIG. 15 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken substantially onthe line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference is made firstto FIG. 1 which illustrates the basic idea and fundamental structure ofthe present invention. The structure illustrated in this figure isfunctional in the form illustrated, supported in any desired manner as,for example it is shown in FIG. 3 or it may be modified as illustratedin the succeeding figures without alteration of the essential or noveldetails involved.

As hereinbefore stated, the invention may be embodied in desiredstructures formed of any one of a large variety of materials, glass andplastic being two such materials previously named. Accordingly forillustrative and descriptive purposes the structure of FIG. 1 has beenillustrated as transparent and accordingly readily displays the novelarrangement of the elastic band in the portion or portions thereofpassing through the article receiving tubular passage.

In FIG. 1 the body of the holder is designated as a whole by thereference character B. This reference character will be employed in thesucceeding figures for designating the holder body in whatever form itmay be shown.

In this FIG. 1 the body B is illustrated as comprising a rectalngularstructure having the top and bottom surfaces 12 and 14 respectively, theopposite end surfaces 16 and side faces 18.

Formed in and extending through the body of material from the top to thebottom surfaces thereof are the tubular passages 20, here shown as beingof circular cross section but which, obviously, may be of any otherdesired cross sectional form of contour.

Formed in the opposite end faces of the body of material 10 are theentrance slots 22 which open into the passages, each entrance slot alsoopening through the top and bottom surfaces of the body as illustrated.

These entrance slots provide the means for attaching the elastic band tothe body with a portion of the band passing through the articlereceiving passage or passages.

The numeral 24 generally designates a circular elastic band such as theconventional rubber band. As illustrated this band is applied to thebody, in a twisted form to have a portion of the band extend througheach of the tubular passages and which portions lying in the tubularpassages are spirally or torsionally twisted as indicated at 26.

At the twist 26, the band has its opposite edges lying in a planeradially of the passage. Thus, one of the edges, indicated at 28 will belocated either at the diametrical center of the passage or near thediametrical center, according to the width of the band. Preferably theband has a width about the equal to, or slightly less than, the radiusof the passage.

It will, of course, be apparent that the slots 22 provide the means forapplying the band to the body in the manner shown by permitting portionsof the band to be inserted into the passages, after which one of theportions of the band located outside of the passages, and which areshown in FIGS. 1 to 4, lying flat upon the top and bottom surfaces ofthe body, may be grasped and given a half turn, as hereinbeforedescribed, to produce the twist, or spiral, in each of the passages.This is the preferred procedure, but no limitation of procedure is to beimplied by this description.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that when a pencil orsimilar article is inserted into the tubular passage, the side of thearticle will press against the edge 28 of the torsionally twistedportion of the band and due to the resistance which will be offered bythe band, there will be a relatively firm or snug frictional engagementestablished between the pencil and the band to thereby hold the pencilsecurely in the passage against the wall of the passage. Obviously, ofcourse, the passage into which the pencil is introduced will besufficiently greater in diameter than the over-all diameter of thepencil so that this desired frictional or wedge-like effect will result.

As hereinbefore stated the invention is applicable to a large variety ofarticles which may be either of a decorative character or functional.

FIG. 3 illustrates both a decorative and functional employment of theinvention. In this figure of the drawings, there is illustrated ananimal figure which is generally designated as 30 and which is in theform of a donkey or burro. In connection with this figure 30 there areillustrated two of the rectangular structures 10 of FIG. 1 placed onopposite sides of the animal and representing packs. Here the bodystructure 32 is of rectangular form similar to the structure 10 of FIG.1 and has the spaced parallel passages 34 each of which communicateswith a slot 36 which opens from the passage laterally or outwardlythrough the wide face of the body rather than through the end as in thefirst-described form.

The two body structures are illustrated with the elastic bands 38extending from one body structure to the other rather than connectingthe two passages of one body as the band has been illustrated in FIG. 1.Thus, it will be seen that the bands 38 serve as or simulate pack strapswith one portion of each band crossing the back of the animal and theopposite portion of each band crossing beneath the belly of the animal.

The body structures 32 may be separate from the body of the animal butwill be firmly held in position against the animals sides by the elasticbands and thus the bands serve the double function of maintaining thebody structures in position as shown and of retaining the pencils orsimilar articles in vertical position in the passages 34.

Since each of the bands 38 has two torsionally or spirally twistedportions each of which extends through a passage 34 it will be seen thatthe same pencil holding action of such twisted portions will function inthe described manner for holding a pencil, pen or like article inposition.

The figure of the drawing shows a pencil 40 in one passage of a bodystructure 32 and a pencil-type typewriter eraser 42 in the othersupporting body structure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another application of the invention. In thiscase the invention is shown applied or in connection with a deskcalender which is generally designated C.

The reference numeral 44 designates the base of the calendar structurewhile the calendar leaves are generally designated 46.

The pencil holder body in this embodiment or application of theinvention is in the form of an elongate plate 48. The numerals and 52designate respectively top and bottom ends of the plate.

The material of the plate 48, adjacent to the top end thereof, has edgeportions rolled inwardly, forming the cylinders 54. These cylinders formor provide the tubular passages 56 into which the pencil or similararticle may be inserted.

The in-rolled edge 58 of the cylinder is spaced slightly from thesurface of the plate 48, thus forming the slot 60 leading into the bandreceiving passage.

The cylinders 54 are in spaced parallel relation and the slots thereofare at the adjacent inner sides of the cylinders or, in other words, theslots are located inwardly of the remote sides of the cylinders.

The numeral 62 designates the elastic band which connects the cylinders54, having each of two side portions lying within a tubular passage 56and torsionally twisted so as to function in the passage in exactly thesame manner as the spirally or torsionally twisted portions of the band24 are illustrated and function, as first described in connection withFIG. 1 of the drawings.

FIGS. 7 to 8 illustrate two applications of the invention to clip-onbodies designed particularly for attachment to sun visors of motorvehicles or other supports which permit the application thereto ofbodies formed in accordance with these figures.

In FIGS. 7 to 8 the body B of the holder is formed of a single piece orsheet of metal or other suitable material, which sheet of material isdesignated 64. Opposite edge portions of the sheet of material 64 arerolled inward to form the two spaced parallel cylinders 66, each ofwhich provides the tubular passage 68 for receiving a pencil orsimilararticle and for receiving the torsionally twisted portion of the elasticband which is here designated 70.

The inwardly rolled edges of the material, forming the cylinders 66, aredesignated 72 and these edges terminate short of the face or outersurface 74 of the sheet thereby forming the band entrance slots 76. Thefunction of these slots will of course be at once apparent from theprevious description given in connection with the structures shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The back surface 78 of the sheet of material 64 has fixed thereto oneend of a spring clip finger 80. As shown this finger is generally in theform of an ogee curve and as illustrated the curve at the attached endof the finger extends outwardly while the reverse curve at the inner orfree end of the finger is directed toward and engages the back surfaceof the sheet 64 with the end of the finger curving outwardly away fromsuch surface. Thus it would be seen that an edge of a sun visor or otherflat body can be readily forced between the free end of the finger andthe back of the sheet of material 64 to hold the pencil holder firmly inplace thereon as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this latter figure a motorvehicle sun visor V is illustrated, upon which the body of the pencilholder is mounted to support a pencil as indicated at 82.

Another form of the clip-on holder is illustrated in FIG. 9 where thebody of the holder B is formed from a single sheet of metal or othermaterial, designated generally by the reference character 84. In thisform the sheet of material 84 is folded on itself, from one end. Thefolded over end portion functions as the spring finger which isdesignated 86, in association or cooperation with the opposing topsurface 88 of the material sheet. The folded over, finger-formingportion 86 is relatively short as compared with the over-all length ofthe sheet 84. The opposite end portion of the sheet, from the finger 86,is rolled under toward the under face or under side 90 of the sheet toform the cylinder 92 which, in turn, provides the tubular passage 94 forreceiving a pencil or similar article together with one side of theelastic band 96. The side of the elastic band which lies within thepassage 94 is, of course, torsionally twisted to function in the mannerhereinbefore described and, by stopping the edge 98 of the roll portionof the sheet short of the under face 90, there is provided the slot 100by which to introduce one side of the elastic band into the tubularpassage.

In this single holder the edges of the sheet at the ends of the cylinder92 are provided with slots 102 to position the elastic band and maintainit in position.

The invention is also adaptable to use in association with a clipboardsuch as that illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 where such board is generallydesignated 106.

A conventional clipboard such as that illustrated comprises a fixed part198 on the board, upon which is pivotally mounted the clip blade 110which has the relatively narrow portion 112 at the top central partthereof as shown. From this narrow part 112 the hinge ears 114 extendfor pivotal attachment to the plate 108 and an eye portion 116 alsoextends from the narrow portion of the clip blade.

No further details of the clipboard structure are shown or thought to benecessary since this is a conventional or well-known construction.

In the application of the pencil holder to the clipboard, the body B isin the form of an elongate block of material of metal or other materialof a suitable nature and which is generally designated 118. This blockof material has a bottom face or surface 120 which positions upon thetop of the neck portion 112 of the clip blade and the block is of anover-all length approximately equal to the width of the neck portionupon which it is disposed.

The block of material is provided with a bore or pencil receivingpassage 122 which extends throughout the length of the block and alongone side of the block there is formed the entrance slot 124 for theelastic band 126.

As shown the entrance slot 124 is in the lower part of the tubularpassage, being much nearer to the bottom 120 of the block than to therounded top side thereof.

When the holder body block 118 is placed in position across the neck 112of the clip blade, the slot 124 is disposed to open away from the blade110.

It will be seen from the illustration of this application of theinvention that the elastic band 126 is applied to encircle the neckportion 112 of the blade and to have a part pass through the passage 122and, of course, it will be understood that the portion going through thepassage 122 will be torsionally twisted as in all previously describedapplications of the invention. Thus in this particular application itwill be seen that the holder does not interfere in any way with thehandling or use of the clipboard and also the pencil is stored entirelyout of the way and furthermore the rubber or elastic band not onlyserves the main purpose of holding the pencil but it also secures theholder itself to the clip blade.

The pencil holder also may be made as an integral part of the clip bladeof the clipboard if desired, as illustrated in FIG. 14. Here it will beseen that the blade in the neck portion 130 thereof, may be rolled backat the top edge of the blade above or beyond the hinge fingers 132, toform the cylinder 134, in the tubular passage 136 of which the pencil isreceived and also the passage receives the torsionally twisted portionof the elastic band which is entered into the passage by way of the slot138, the formation of which results from stopping the edge of the rolledportion of the metal of the blade, short of the surface of the blade aswill be readily apparent.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the elasticband which has a portion extending through the pencil receiving passage136, is generally designated 138. The band will, of course, betorsionally twisted within the passage so as to provide the radiallydirected edge for frictional engagement by a pencil inserted into thepassage, as described in connection with the other illustratedembodiments of the invention.

A particular feature of novelty of the present inven tion, in additionto the other features set forth, is that it makes no difference whetherthe pencil, or other elongate article has a sharpened or pointed end, orwhether the eraser or blunt end is inserted first into the receivingpassage, the twisted, or spiral form of the band will permit such end topass Without catching, or other difficulty.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that there is providedin the present invention a holder for pencils, pens and similar articleswhich may be manufactured either as a single item or in combination withother articles and which will have a wide range of appeal.

The holder is adaptable to use in any location and in any position andwill be equally effective to grip and hold a pencil securely regardlessof the position or any movements of the holder.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within themetes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well asconjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to beembraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A holder for a pencil or similar long article, comprising a bodyhaving a tubular passage therethrough for receiving such a long article,a flat elastic band having a portion in and extending longitudinallythrough the said passage, the said portion of the band having atorsional twist whereby a part of an edge thereof is directed radiallyof and lies adjacent to the axial center of the passage for engaging anarticle in the longitudinal direction thereof, and means facilitatingapplication of the band to the body.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said elastic band is inthe form of an annulus and has a portion lying along the outside of thebody.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the said means comprisesa slot extending the length of and opening into the passage.

4. A holder for a pencil or similar long article, comprising a bodyformed to provide a pencil receiving passage having open ends, anelastic band annulus carried by the body and having a portion extendinglongitudinally through said passage, the said portion of the annulushaving a torsional twist in a part thereof lying within the passage, andthere being an entrance slot longitudinally of and leading into thepassage by which to position said portion of the annulus in the passage.

5. A holder for a pencil or similar article, comprising a body formed toprovide a pair of spaced juxtaposed passages open at their ends and eachadapted to receive a pencil, an elastic band annulus having each of twoportions thereof in and extending through a passage and having portionsconnecting said two portions extending between adjacent ends of thepassages, each of said two portions being torsionally twisted with apart extending widthwise radially in its respective passage, and meansfor facilitating application of the said two portions in the passages.

6. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising a supportmember, a body upon each of two opposite sides of said support memberand each body being formed to provide a pencil receiving passage open atits two ends, an elastic band annulus encircling a part of said supportmember and having each of two portions extending through a pencilpassage, each of said two portions of said band having a torsional twistwithin its passage, and slot means in each body for facilitatingpositioning the twisted band portion therein.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said support member hassupporting legs and is formed to simulate a quadruped and wherein saidbodies upon the opposite sides of said support member simulate packs andsaid band annulus has another portion extending across the top of thesupport member in simulation of pack straps.

3. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising a figurein simulation of a quadruped, two bodies having said figure positionedtherebetween and each lying against a side of the figure in simulationof packs, each of said bodies having a pair of pencil receiving passagesformed vertically therethrough and having open ends, two elastic bandannuli each encircling the said figure and each having a portionextending through one of two oppositely located pencil passages of saidbodies, each portion of each annulus being torsionally twisted withinthe passage in which it is located, each of said annuli having a portionextending transversely over and upon the top of said figure insimulation of a pack strap, and each of said bodies having a slottherein leading from an outer surface of the body into each pencilpassage for facilitating the positioning of the twisted band portiontherein.

9. A holder for pencils and similar articles comprising the combinationof a base member and pencil holding means thereon and comprising a bodysecured to and extending upwardly from a back part of said base andcarrying a vertically disposed cylinder having a pencil receivingpassage axially therethrough, an elastic band having a portion extendingthrough and held under tension in said passage and having a torsionaltwist in the passage, and means forming a slot longitudinally of andopening into the passage for facilitating positioning said band portiontherein.

10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein the said body comprisesan elongate sheet of material and carrying a second vertically disposedcylinder, said cylinders being located at opposite sides of the body atthe top end thereof, each of said cylinders being formed by an edgeportion of the sheet material turned inwardly in a roll and the inturnededge of the sheet being spaced from a face of the sheet to form saidpassage.

11. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising a sheetof resilient material having a portion of one end folded over toward oneside face of the sheet to form a resilient clip finger and having anopposite end portion turned under in the form of a cylindrical roll withan edge of the under turned portion spaced from the opposite face of thesheet to form a slot, said roll providing a tubular pencil receivingpassage, and an elastic band having a portion extending longitudinallythrough said passage with said portion torsionally twisted within thepassage and having another portion extending longitudinally of the outerside of the roll.

12. The invention according to claim 11, wherein the end edges of saidroll are provided with notches in which said elastic band is engaged formaintaining its operative position.

13. A holder for pencils and similar long articles and adapted forfrictional engagement with a flat body such as a motor vehicle sunvisor, said holder comprising a sheet of relatively stiff material suchas metal and the like, said sheet of material having portions ofopposite edges rolled inwardly to form spaced parallel cylinders andeach providing a tubular pencil receiving passage, the in-rolledlongitudinal edges of the cylinders being spaced from a surface of thesheet to form a slot leading into the passage, an elastic band annulusstretched between said cylinders and having each of two oppositeportions lying within a passage and further having the portions lying inthe passages torsionally twisted, the said slots facilitating thepositioning of said portions in the passages, and a resilient clipfinger having an end secured to said sheet of material upon the sidethereof remote from the cylinders and having a free end yieldinglypositioned adjacent to said side of the sheet to facilitate introductionof an edge of a flat supporting body between the finger and the sheet.

14. A holder for pencils and similar long articles, comprising thecombination of a clamp element including a pivoted clamp blade, and anelongate body carried by said clamp blade and having a pencil receivingpassage longitudinally therethrough, an elastic band annulus having aportion extending through said passage and having said portiontorsionally twisted within the passage, the annulus having anotherportion extending longitudinally of the outside of said body, and meansfor facilitating placement of said twisted portion in the passage.

15. The invention according to claim 14, wherein said elongate body is aseparate body from said clamp blade and wherein said elastic bandannulus passes around a part of the clamp blade and performs thefunction of holding the elongate body on the clamp blade in addition toits pencil securing function.

16. The invention according to claim 14, wherein said elongate bodycarried by the clamp blade consists of an integral portion of the clampblade shaped to form a tubular cylinder, the bore of which forms saidpencil receiving passage.

17. A holder for an elongate article of the nature of a pencil,comprising a body having a tubular passage open at both ends, an elasticband having a width greater than its thickness and having a portion inand extending longitudinally through said passage, the said portion ofthe band having a torsional twist whereby a part of an edge thereof isdirected radially of the passage and substantially parallels thelongitudinal axis of the passage and the band width being such withrespect to the diameter of the passage as to position said part of saidedge adjacent to the longitudinal center of the passage whereby it willengage the longitudinal surface of an elongate article inserted into thepassage and secure the article therein by friction.

(References on following page) 9 References Cited by the Examiner1,385,443 1,815,024 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,803,902 1/84 Covell 2481 2 7,022 8/96 Tollner. r 8/01 Forrester 120108 9/02 McClung. 2112%: 3/11Fraser et a1. 7/12 Smith 24 -11 324,514 4/ 16 1 0 Gross. Foster. Shedd40107 Kroviak 2466 X Germany.

1/30 Great Britain.

Kfiating 211-69 X 10 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner,

1. A HOLDER FOR A PENCIL OF SIMILAR LONG ARTICLE, COMPRISING A BODYHAVING A TUBULAR PASSAGE THERETHROUGH FOR RECEIVING SUCH A LONG ARTICLE,A FLAT ELASTIC BAND HAVING A PORTION IN AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLYTHROUGH THE SAID PASSAGE, THE SAID PORTION OF THE BAND HAVING ATORSIONAL TWIST WHEREBY A PART OF AN EDGE THEREOF IS DIRECTED RADIALLYOF THE LIES ADJACENT TO THE AXIAL CENTER OF THE PASSAGE FOR ENGAGING ANARTICLE IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THEREOF, AND MEANS FACILITATINGAPPLICATION OF THE BAND TO THE BODY.